Gophers Face Wisconsin Thursday

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN –Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play); Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Tip Time: 3:31 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN 100.3 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 382

SERIES INFORMATION
197th Meeting (98-98 all time)*
Road vs. Wisconsin: 95th Meeting (34-60)
Current Streak: L-1
Richard Pitino vs. Wisconsin 3-10
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 776-854*
Richard Pitino vs. Big Ten: 55-86
* - excludes vacated games

STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota is back on the road for the second time this season, this time to No. 6 Wisconsin Thursday. The Gophers are 0-1 on the road this season and in Big Ten play, falling to Illinois earlier.
• Minnesota and Wisconsin split action last year, both winning its home competition. The Gophers earned a home win on Feb. 5, 2020 (70-52), but fell in Madison, Wisconsin, March 1, 2020 (71-69). In the last game, Daniel Oturu led Minnesota with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Marcus Carr added 21 points.
• Minnesota is coming off an 81-56 win over Michigan State Monday night. Liam Robbins had 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Marcus Carr scored 19 points and dished out five assists for the Gophers, who never trailed and held the Spartans to 25.7 percent shooting (18 for 70) while outrebounding them 52-36. The 52 rebounds was the best this year for the Gophers and most since Jan. 2, 2020 against Purdue. It was also Minnesota's largest win margin over the Spartans since 1964. Minnesota had large margin wins over MSU in 1997 and 1977 but were later vacated.
• With wins over Iowa and Michigan State, it was the first time the Gophers defeated back-to-back ranked opponents since 2010. Minnesota defeated No. 11 Michigan State 72-67 (OT) on March 12, 2010 and followed with a 69-42 win over No. 6 Purdue on March 13, 2010. The Gophers received a No. 21 ranking Monday before they played MSU. It was the first time since Nov. 29, 2017 the Gophers were ranked and faced a ranked opponent as the No. 12 Gophers fell to No. 10 Miami, 86-81.
• Marcus Carr continues to rank high nationally and within the Big Ten. Carr averages 24.0 ppg, which is tied for fourth nationally and third in the Big Ten. His 6.1 assists per game ranks first in the league and 24th nationally. He also averages 35.8 minutes played, which also tops the Big Ten and 42nd nationally. Carr also averages 2.5 three-pointers per game, good for third in the league. He's the only Division I player averaging at least 21 points, six assists and shooting 48 percent.

SCOUTING THE BADGERS
• The Wisconsin Badgers enter the Minnesota game with an 8-2 overall record and are 2-1 in Big Ten play. The Badgers fell to Maryland Monday at home, 70-64, to suffer its first league loss of the year. Prior to that, Wisconsin defeated Nebraska at home, 67-53 and Michigan State on the road, 85-76.
• Prior to the Big Ten season, the Badgers held a 6-1 nonconference record. Their only loss came against Marquette 67-65, at Marquette.
• D'Mitrik Trice leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.2 points per game. He's followed with Micah Potter at 12.2 ppg and Brad Davison at 10.6 ppg. Potter also leads the team with 6.9 rebounds per game.
• On the season, the Badgers are averaging 76.7 points per game and has held its opponents to just 60.6 ppg. Wisconsin ranks 13th in the NCAA three-point shooting at 41.5 percent.

GOPHERS RANKED NO. 21 AP POLL
• Minnesota is currently No. 21 in the Associated Press poll released Monday. The poll marks the first time since Dec. 10, 2017 that the Golden Gophers have been ranked.
• In all, nine Big Ten teams are currently ranked within the AP's top 25. Wisconsin is ranked No. 6, followed by Iowa at No. 10. Rutgers (No. 14), Illinois (No. 15), Michigan (No. 16), Michigan State (No. 17), Northwestern (No. 19), the Gophers (tied at No. 21) and Ohio State (No. 25) are all ranked in the top 25. Minnesota's last nonconference opponent, Saint Louis, is also receiving votes.
• Overall, Minnesota is 9-5 under head coach Richard Pitino when ranked and 2-3 in Big Ten play.

CARR CO-BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Redshirt junior Marcus Carr has been named the Co Big Ten Player of the Week, announced Monday by the conference office. It marks Carr's first Big Ten weekly award of his career and the first honor this season for Minnesota. The last weekly award dates back to Gabe Kalscheur and Daniel Oturu during the 2019-20 season.
• Carr produced his third 30-plus game this season and second in a row Friday against Iowa Christmas night. The Toronto, Ont., native had 30 points against the then-No. 4 Hawkeyes when he went 6-for-13 shooting from 3-point range and eight assists. He also scored a crucial three-pointer to send the game into overtime against Iowa as the Gophers later secured the 102-95 upset win.

BLOCKED SHOTS
• Minnesota leads the Big Ten in blocked shots, averaging 5.30 per game. That mark also ranks 16th nationally.
• Liam Robbins ranks first in the Big Ten averaging 2.6 blocks per game and ranks 24th nationally.

UP NEXT
• Minnesota is back in action on Jan. 3 when the Gophers host No. 25 Ohio State.
• Tip off is set for 4:30 p.m., on BTN while KFAN 100.3 FM will carry the Gopher Radio Network broadcast in the Twin Cities and brought in progress.

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Players Mentioned

Marcus Carr

Gabe Kalscheur

Daniel Oturu

Liam Robbins